First, we thank the District 1 board and administration for using common sense.

30 years ago we asked why the district could not come up with an architectural design to build multiple schools, saving expensive design costs.

We were told that was impossible because all sites are different as are the needs of students, parents and faculty.

Now it appears it is possible.

The district will use the new Beechwood Middle School prototype to build the new Lexington Middle School and is using it for Pelion Middle School.

Prototypes save time, allow builders to start earlier, avoid inflationary costs, result in fewer costly change orders and should save money. How much it will save is not yet known.

Last week the board approved buying 33.5 acres on Old Cherokee Road for $1.59 million – $47,500 an acre – for the new Lexington Middle School.

The price is low, according to an independent appraisal and follows a 6-month evaluation of comparably-size properties.

The school will be in a single building making a safer campus, district officials believe.

What is disappointing is that some board members may not have known they would be asked to approve before the meeting.

The board had seen no due diligence documents, according to board member Jada Garris.

Garris said she asked to delay the vote for 30 days to allow time for a public hearing and community meetings as it’s the board’s responsibility to keep the citizens informed.

Her motion died, she said, “along with the illusion of transparency the district and board have fought hard to make us believe exists.”

“They continue to blindly vote yes to every motion brought before them,” she said.

The need to move the school from its present congested location is apparent. But the site on heavily congested Old Cherokee Road won’t solve that problem.

Who do the board members think they work for, the voters or the administration?

– Jerry Bellune

The new middle school site won’t solve the present location’s congestion problems.